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Job-Market Reporting Thread (2025-26)
Job-Market Discussion Thread (2025-26)

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  • Disciplinary norms for using “Cf.”

    In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

    Does does anyone (particularly those who often read job market writing samples or regularly serve as a reviewer) have any advice as to when on when one can or should use "Cf." according to our disciplinary norms? I am aware that there is a bit of semantic drift going on and that people often use it beyond its official use of meaning something like "compare". One often finds it used as more or less synonymous with "see" in all sorts of published venues, particularly in empirical-adjacent philosophy journals. However, I am wondering whether some sticklers look down on this usage and whether it would thus be wise to avoid it even though I enjoy using it in the latter way.

    I guess I'd be surprised if more than a few people are going to be concerned with this sort of thing, particularly given how rarely "Cf." appears to be used (at least in my experience). That said, when I use it, I use it according to its official meaning ("compare").

    Any other readers have any tips?

    6

  • How to handle an unresponsive co-author?

    In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

    How should one deal with an uncommunicative coauthor?

    Long story short, I've had a paper in the works with one coauthor for a good while. The paper has been basically complete for over a year now. We've both agreed it just needs a final polish from both of us before sending it out, and that my coauthor will edit it with regard to new work in their AOS first and I will then give it a final polish. So far so good, and I think it's a great paper!

    However it's gotten increasingly difficult to get a hold of my coauthor. They've had some personal life difficulties, so it's very understandable. At first, when I would circle back to ask if they're making progress, it would take them months to respond. We managed to meet up over zoom, and I asked if they'd like me to take over entirely if they can't contribute anymore (of course retaining them as an author), or bring someone else from their AOS on board as a third author. They ensured me they've got this, but afterwards, they've stopped responding altogether. I'm both worried if they're OK, and frustrated because I'm working on a connected paper that builds on our collaboration and would love to cite this one in it.

    What's the best way to move forward? Is it appropriate to contact someone from their department to ask if my collaborator is OK, or could it create problems for them?

    I'm sorry the OP is dealing with this, and hope as well that their coauthor is okay. My sense is that this sort of thing is extremely common, including in the sciences where coauthoring is the norm.

    I guess don't think I would contact someone else in their department. As the OP notes, maybe the coauthor is having personal difficulties. Even if their behavior is a bit unprofessional, I don't think I would want to cause problems for them. Instead, I wonder whether it might be best to send the coauthor one more email inquiring how they are doing and letting them know that you plan to send out the paper if you don't hear back and receive revisions from them. It just doesn't seem fair for one coauthor to indefinitely hold up a project, so as long as the work is decently well done, there's always a chance it might be accepted or at least receive a revise-and-resubmit–which might motivate the coauthor to finally get moving on their part of the manuscript. Other than that (and choosing not to coauthor with them in the future), I'm not sure what good options there are.

    What do other readers think?

    3

  • How to list adjunct work on a CV?

    In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

    If one is an adjunct at one university, but at a different institution holds a research position (not TT), where does the adjunct work belong on a CV? Under 'Professional Experience' (i.e., as a professional affiliation) or under 'Teaching Experience'?

    I guess since they are both professional experience, it seems to me most appropriate to list it under that section. But I'm not sure if there is a settled norm for cases like this. 

    What do readers think?

    1

  • Concerns about traveling to the US?

    In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a concerned reader writes:

    I'm heading to a large conference in the southern US later this year, where I'll be presenting on a topic that is under attack by the current administration (think reproductive rights, trans rights, etc.). I'm an academic in Canada, so I'll be traveling across the border. But I'm a US citizen, for whatever that's worth.

    I haven't been able to find any real information about how worried I should be or what I should do as I prepare to go to the US. I'm privileged to be in Canada, but I have a deep sense of responsibility to participate in some kind of resistance — which has been much harder for me since I'm not currently embedded in my usual US community. So, I'm fairly committed to going to this conference.

    But I just keep getting increasingly worried, and since most academics in Canada are completely avoiding the US (for good reason!!!), it's been difficult to get any advice on what to do if I'm set on going. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any sense of how dangerous this could be, what precautions I ought to take, etc. Any thoughts or advice?

    Sadly (for so many reasons), all I know about is what I read in the news. One reader submitted the following response:

    I don't have much of info on your specific situation, but one piece of advice I have seen time and time again is to turn off the Face ID feature for unlocking your phone when you cross the border!! As I understand it ICE/customs agents are abusing the Face ID unlock feature by waving it in front of people's faces, whereas they (allegedly) need a warrant in order to get your phone passcode number. A lot of the recent border denials seem to have revolved around contents on the individuals' phones, so this is something to keep in mind when you are coming in to the U.S. with info on your phone that they may not like.

    Do any other readers have any relevant experiences or tips to share?

    12